Adjustable bulkhead for refrigerator cars



D. KUPELIAN 'Jul 23, 1929.

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 28,1927 Inventor July23, 1929. D. KUPE.LIAN Y 1,721,563

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD F OR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Oct. 28, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 7 3a. 7zj L9 7 1g rzyii, M

Inventor fiiralz j wZzah Attarnqy July 23, 1929.

3 Sheets-Sheet Filed 001;. 28, 1927 r m I Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES DIR AN KUPELIAN, OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

Application filed October 28, 1927.

This invention relates to adjustable bulk heads adapted particularly foruse in railway refrigerator cars and has for a principal object toprovide means for securing the material being shipped in the car againstshifting movement while en route.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which may be easily and conveniently drawn in and out of theway positions in the car when not in use.

Heretofore in the shipment of material in refrigerator cars which onlypartially fills the area thereof, in order to prevent the shifting ofthe packages or crates while en route and to prevent the consequentinjury or breakage as a result thereof, lumber has been the usual meansemployed for forming a bulk head for the material by cutting the lumberinto braces to suit the load and force the same into place to preventthe shifting movement of the material. However, the use of lumber inthis manner makes it inexpedient and has proven entirely unsatisfactoryfor the purpose. It

is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a morepractical method of forming a bulk head for the material within the carwhich is readily adjustable to retain the brace and other articleswithin a predetermined area, of the car and insure the same againstshifting movement so as to prevent injury or damage thereto and whichmay be easily removed when unloading the car and drawn in an out of theway position until desired for further use.

The invention has for a further object to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which is strong and durable, eflicient for enabling theshipment of the goods in safety, relatively inexpensive to manufactureand otherwise well adapted to the purposes for which the same isintended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction andcombination of the various elements comprising the invention,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through arefrigerator car showing my invention in operative position therein,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a line2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view showing the assembled bulk head inretaining posi tion within the car,

Serial No. 229,394.

Figures 4 and 5 are side and end elevational views respectively of thevertical members of the bulk head provided with means for adjustablysecuring one end of the cable,

Figure 6 is a View in elevation of the adjustin g tool,

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the horizontal members forming thebulk head,

Figure 8 is an end view thereof,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of one of the horizontal members of amodified form of bulk head provided with an adjusting drum,

Figure 10 is a side elevational View thereof,

Figure 11 is a rear elevational view,

Figure 12 is an elevational view of one of the vertical bulk headmembers employed for use with the modified form of the invention,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along theline 1313 of Figure 10,

Figure 14 is a detail of one of the sectional rollers forming theconnection between the vertical and horizontal members of the modifiedform of bulk head, and

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the cable guides.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown my inventionadapted for use in connection with the body of a railway refrigeratorcar indicated generally at 5, said body being formed of a floor rack 6,top 7 and end sections 8. Bolts 9 with or without springs are attachedto each of the end sections forming an attachment for one end of cables10 extending longitudinally with respect to the body, one set of cablesextending beneath the floor rack 6 and upwardly through an opening 11formed therein adjacent the center of the body.

The other set of cables is arranged adjacent the top of the body and maybe disposed at any suitable predetermined position therein to extendover the top of the crate or packages indicated at 12 being transportedby the car. Both the upper and lower sets of cables may comprise anysuitable number, the present embodiment of the invention pro viding forthe use of three of such cables to each set. The end of each of thecables is provided with an extension 13 spliced to the main cable, theends of the extension and the main cable each being provided with rings14.

A bulk head is formed within the body composed of a plurality ofhorizontally arranged members and vertically disposed members 16. Thehorizontal members have one face thereof provided with a pair of spacedparallel ribs 17 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to beretained in engaged position with a series of notches 18 formed alongthe rear edge of the vertical members 16. The opposite or smooth face ofthe horizontal member 15 arranged for abutting the ends of the crates12. The opposite edge of the vertical members 16 is formed with theseries of inclined prongs 19 extending outwardly therefrom and arrangedin upper and lower sections, the prongs of each section extending in adirection toward the center of the member. Pulley wheels 20 arerotatably mounted at the upper and lower ends of each of the verticalmembers 16.

I'Vith the members 15 and 16 arranged in assembled position as shown inFigure 3 of the drawings, the cables 10 are carried over the upper andunder the lower ends thereof by means of the pulleys 20, the rings 1 1attached to the ends of the -main cable being adapted to engage one ofthe prongs l9 whereoy to retain the bulk head in assembled position atthe end of the crates.

In order to create a proper tension upon either the upper or lower cableI employ a tool indicated at 21 in the form of a lever having a hook 22attached intermediate its ends for engaging the ring 4 of the cableextension and which upon bracing the end 23 thereof against the end ofthe notches 19 in the vertical member Figure 4:, may be utilized totighten the cable, after which the ring 14 attached to the end of themain cable may be adjusted upon one of the notches 19 whereby tomaintain the tension on the cable after the lever has been removed.

In Figures 9 to 15 inclusive of the drawings, I have illustrated amodified form of the invention which may be used in place of the memberforming the bulk head. such modification consisting of one or morehorizontally disposed members 24.- having pulley wheels 25 rotatablymounted at the opposite ends thereof over which the cables 26 may becarrier for connection with a drum 2'? rotatably supported intermediatethe ends of such member. In the present form of the invention the cables26 are adapted for extending longitudinally along the sides of thecrates rather than above and beneath the same as heretofore described.The face of the horizontal member opposite from the drum 27 is adaptedto be raised innermost with respect to the crates and is provided with alongitudinally extending channelled groove 28 adapted to slidablyreceive one end of a flanged roller 29. The opposite flanged end 30 ofthe roller is threadedlv at tached thereto whereby to permit the rollerto be inserted through a slotted opening 81 on any vertically disposedbulk head member 39.

F I I whereby to retain the horizontal member 24;

in position with respectthereto. The outer face of the horizontal member22- is provided at each end with cable guides 33 so as to maintain thecable in position upon the pulleys 25 as clearly illustrated in Figure10 of the drawings.

The shaft 34: forming a mounting for the drum extends outwardlytherefrom through a bearing bracket 35 attached to the horizontal memberand carries a ratchet 36 thereon engageable by a pawl 37 whereby tosecure the drum against rotation in one direction. The outer end of theshaft is formed into a socket 38 designed for removably receiving ahandle member 39 by means of which the drum may be rotated so as tomaintain a proper tension on the cable 26.

By employing the form of the invention last referred to it will beapparent that the crates or packing boxes may be securely retained inposition from the sides of the body of the car and avoid cutting groovesin the floor rack of cars as otherwise required in previous descriptionof use of invention. By creating a proper tension upon the cables thematerial will be prevented from shifting either transversely orlongitudinally with re spect to the car during the transportation of thesame.

Whenever it is desired to unload the car,

the cables may be released and the bulk heads disassembled and stored inracks 40 attached to the roof of the car. The cables may also beretained in an out of the way position by attaching the same to hooks 41also suitably placed in the top of the car, or in brackets in the sidesof the car when installed as provided in the modified form of theinvention.

The horizontal and vertical members constituting the bulk head may beloosely attached to a chain 42 connected with the bracket 10 to preventthe removal of such members from the car. Thus the parts are alwaysretained Within convenient reach when desired for use.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes andmodifications, without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advan tages, and I accordingly claimall such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising aplurality of vertically disposed bulk head members. a plurality ofhorizontally disposed bulk head members, means formed on each of saidmembers coacting to retain the same in a predetermined position withrespect to each other. flexible connecting means extending over andunder the load within the compartment, and means carried by certain ofsaid members for releasably engaging said connecting means, saidconnecting means operating to retain the Cir connecting member inposition with respect to the load.

2. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising aplurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, a plurality ofvertically disposed bulk head members, means formed on each of saidmembers coacting to retain the same in a prede termined position withrespect to each other, oppositely inclined prongs formed on theoutwardly disposed bases of said vertical members and a plurality offlexible members hav ing one end attached to one of the walls of thecompartment and extending over and under the load therein and the upperand lower ends of said vertical members and means carried at theiropposite ends for adjustably securing the same to said prongs.

3. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising aplurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, a plural ity ofvertically disposed bulkhead members, ribs formed on one face of saidhorizontal members, notches formed on one edge of said vertical memberscoacting with the ribs to retain such members in a predeterminedposition with respect to each other, prongs formed on the opposite edgeof said vertical member and a plurality of flexible members having oneend attached to one Wall of the compartment with their opposite endsextending over the ends of certain of said bulk head members andarranged for adjustably engaging said prongs.

4. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments, a plurality ofVertically disposed bulk head members, a plurality of horizontallydisposed bulk head members, means formed on each of said members foracting to retain the same in a predetermined posit-ion with respect toeach other, pulleys mounted at the upper and lower ends of said verticalmcmbers,fiexible members extending over and under the loads within thecompartment and about said pulleys, and means carried by certain of saidbulk head members for releasably engaging said flexible members, saidflexible members operating to retain the members in posit-ion withrespect to the load.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DIRAN KUPELIAN.

